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RESTAURANT AWARDS
Best Oriental PATOO THAI
Best Italian NONNAS
The restaurant won Best Newcomer back in 2011 and since then, has gone from strength to strength. Patoo Thai continues to blend authentic cuisine and brilliant customer service. Owner Jariya Sancunakorn was visiting family in Thailand, but her sister Mayuree Msigapong was happy to accept the award on her behalf. “She sends regards to all of you. We’ve had a refurbishment and have changed the colour of the interior for a new warmer look. “We will now try to do more to promote our dishes and will offer a free meal for those who come to the restaurant to celebrate their birthday.”
Celebrating its 20th anniversary this month, Nonnas continues to be a firm favourite on Ecclesall Road, providing locals with everything from breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner, to a bustling wine bar. Combined with authentic Italian ingredients and an all-Italian wine list, Nonnas was the clear winner. General manager Stefano Buralli said: “We try to stick with the Italian way. There’s always something new to try. It’s seasonal. “We are always changing the food menus seasonally and we change the wine and cocktail lists once a year. And from January we are starting a new monthly special with food and wine from each region of Italy.”
Best Indian BUTLERS BALTI HOUSE & ASHOKA Our compère Howard Middleton put it best when he said, “The competition for this category was so hot, you couldn’t put a poppadom between them.” So for the first time in Westside Restaurant Award history, we have two winners for Best Indian – Butlers Balti House and Ashoka. Though Ashoka recently had a refurbishment, they continue to celebrate tradition with their retro-styled restaurant. Owner Rahul Amin said: “We’re really happy. It’s nice for the team to be recognised for all the hard work they have put in. We are 49 years old this year, so it’s a nice little gift before our 50th next year. “I think great food, great ingredients and not taking any shortcuts is important. We always try and do the best job we can.” Bulters Balti House has built up an outstanding reputation in the city centre over the past 19 years. This year they are planning to expand with the opening of a Chinese restaurant upstairs. Owner and manager Sajid Quader said: “I started working at Butlers when it opened in 1997 and worked my way up. Some restaurants make dishes that all end up tasting the same. “What makes us unique is that every dish is completely different. And we don’t just do Indian dishes. We cater for a wide range of tastes with Northern Punjab and Pakistani dishes too.